By JARROD POTTER
MOST golf clubs would quickly patch up a hole in a fence … but Cranbourne Golf Club doesn’t want to cut off a shortcut to the greens for the club’s rising star Jack Rasmussen.
His love for the sport started young – as he was glued to the televisions watching the action as a toddler – and he’s been hooked officially for a few years now.
“When I was three I’d stay up all night watching the golf with mum – long way back I’ve been into it I think but didn’t know until I was 13 that I really liked it,” Rasmussen said.
“Started doing clinics here when I was about 10 and playing club comps when I was 13 at the end of Year 7.
“In the first place it was dad and the family friends who persuaded me to try it out – was going to give it up to play footy, but then the next year I gave up footy to play golf so that was a big turn in the tables.”
The talented 17-year-old lives virtually next door to the links and has been a fixture at the course since he was 13 and those years of diligent practice have started to pay off.
Despite arriving late for the recently held Southern Junior Classic – Rasmussen shook off a rocky start to power ahead and take the 36-hole event by two strokes.
“I didn’t really have a very good warm up – just got there and … was a bit headless to be honest,” Rasmussen said.
“Sort of rocked up and picked up one of my friends Robert Taylor who was caddying for me – which was fortunate because I had never played there before – we rocked up really late and hit about six putts before heading out to the tees.
“Started off shaky but I was solid – hit it close enough to hole a few putts and shot three under in the first round and in the second round I hit it a bit better but then didn’t make any putts and shot even 72 – and snagged it by two shots.”
He backed up the Southern victory winning the scratch match play finals at Cranbourne to sweep the weekend and finish on a high note.
He’s been picking up a few wins as of late as the Cranbourne teen also won the Barham Classic last year and hopes to defend his title there later this year.
He also flew up to Queensland and finished equal sixth at the Greg Norman Junior Masters, a notable achievement where he represented Victoria.
Rasmussen wants to work on his short game as well as earn admission into the Riversdale Cup tournament – and besides those he’ll just follow the year on the green wherever it may take him.
“I want to try to get into the Riversdale Cup – the big amateur tournament – and maybe if I could finish top 10 that would be really good for me,” Rasmussen said.
“Also want to try and at least come second or third in clubbies and play a few more men’s amateur tournament that are world ranking or Australian ranking so I can get a bit more recognised.”
He wanted to thank Parvez Rahman, Mark Auhl and Lyn Gandalfo for their unwavering support of his golfing ambitions.
